Friendship is the close relation between two persons as determined by time and place. The close friendship of Chao Shao-an and Yang Shanshen, two masters of the Lingnan School of painting, brought about not only the meeting of minds but also led to the creation of interesting works of art.

Both Chao and Yang settled in Hong Kong in the 1940s, and they often met together in the Lingnan Art Studio, and they have spent their leisure and created joint paintings. When they made friends with the owner of the Yuet Tung China Works, Tso Wing-shui, they tried their hands at painting on porcelain using their own artistic style.

With the support of Professor Chao’s family and Yuet Tung China Works, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum held the exhibition entitled “Porcelain and Painting” from 2018 to 2019 at its Chao Shao-an Gallery. The exhibition features joint works on paper dated from the 1950s and paintings on porcelain done at Yuet Tung China Works during the 1960s to 1980s by the two masters. These works provide valuable evidence of their artistic dialogue, and the relationship between the Lingnan School and the Guangcai ceramic industry in Hong Kong.

This collection presents the contents and materials of the above exhibition to allow the general public to appreciate the story of the two artists’ friendship and creations, and learn the artistic significance of their works.